Please read (or at least skim through) the stories in Genesis 25-50. Which of these stories do you find most interesting? Explain how that story is particularly appropriate as an example of Torah "law," or explain how that story shows the Torah to be something more than just a law code.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
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The story of Joseph's brothers' time in Egypt demonstrates that the Torah is more than a law code. Joseph's brothers were extremely jealous of him because he found such great favor with their father as well as with God. Because of these feelings, Joseph's brothers decide to kill him but in the end only sell him to a caravan for a profit. Joseph finds himself in Egypt and gains favor among the house of Pharaoh. When a famine hits the countryside, Joseph's brothers come to Egypt for grain. Being that Joseph had attained such a high position he could have sent his brothers away or had them killed. However, Joseph provides his brothers with grain. The compassion the Joseph shows his brothers demonstrates the compassion that we should all have in our lives. Obviously compassion is not that easy to provide for even Joseph can not help being rude to his brothers before he reveals himself. Joseph could have just as easily sought revenge against his brothers but instead he chose to help them. This lesson on forgiveness is one that we could all practice more often.
I found the story of Jacob and his many children to be very interesting. In a way it was almost comical how Leah and Rachel had fought over having Jacob's children, they almost saw it as a contest; whoever had more sons should be more loved by Jacob.
Jacob, his two wives, and two concubines had created a small nation of themselves and their many children. Because they kept to themselves, they always seemed to do what they saw fit. I think that this shows more than just a law, but a moral way of life.
For example, Leah's daughter, Dinah, was raped by Shechem but he realized that he really did love her and want her as his wife. He and his father, King Hamor, went to Jacob to get Dinah for his wife. When Jacob's sons, or Dinah's brothers, found out what he had done they were outraged. They eventually massacred the whole city for what was done for their sister.
This story teaches us that the Torah is much more than law, it is a moral code. We can't just do whatever we please, we must keep in mind how our actions affect others. Much like the golden rule: do onto others as you hope they would do onto you.
There are many things in Genesis that would in fact suggest it was simply a law code, but many of the passages that we have read recently that it is in fact something more. These stories do point out things like jealousy with stories like that of Joseph’s brothers and their father and also Leah and Rachel having children for Jacob. It also points out forgiveness, love, and God delivering what he promised. These stories explain how life should and should not be lived. It also shows common sense things like planning ahead in the case of Joseph and Pharaoh but also with making things right in the case of payment for services with Jacob. Good call on the passages again smattson.
It seems that a few number of women in the bible had trouble conceiving and that their husbands were very worried about this so they conceived a child with someone else. How can this be good for marriages at all? Happy Blogging!!!
The story that I find to be most interesting is the story in Chapter 32. Esau is coming after his brother Jacob and Jacob ended up wrestling with a man after he is left alone. He is blessed by this man who appears to be God. in verse 30 he says "he has seen God face to face, and my life is preserved". I do not get the significant of the thigh in this chapter. Verse 31 and 32 seem a little difficult to understand. I am not sure on how this Chapter could be interpreted as part of the Torah or law. If anything can be learned from this part of the book I guess it would be how God blessed Jacob and had a definite plan and purpose for his life.
I have to agree with smattson that we could all practice forgiveness a bit more. Joseph should have been furious with his brothers for what they did to him. But instead I think he felt sorry for his brothers having to live such a sad life. When you become 'green eyed' with jealousy it takes control of your life and living like that is sad. Joseph saw this and helped his brothers. It doesn't get anyone anywhere continuing a ridiculous fight. I think people who learn to just let things go and forgive truly are strong and should be admired.
This is a lesson to all that can be used literally for all time. It shows people the way of forgiveness and what good can come from it. But I also believe that forgiveness is something that you have to learn. It is not just as is easy as reading it and doing it. This shows me that Genesis is not just a set of rules that are easy to follow but a set of moral guidelines that you have to strive to to meet.
I like all of those verses as example of law.
The verse that I really liked was Genesis 39, "Joseph's Temptation." In this verse, Joseph is bought as a slave in Egypt, and his master's wife wants to "have him" while Joseph's master is out. When Joseph refuses to give in to her demands, she claims he tried to be with her, and his master throws him into jail.
This is a good example of law because Joseph does the right thing. He does not give into temptation and take his master's wife. He also doesn't try to lie or charge against the wife, he instead trusts God to watch over him, and this pays off.
Any readers of this story could learn a number of things on how to live life the right way, and thus it could be a great example of following "law".
I like the example of how Jacob meets Rachel. He goes to Laban and agrees to work for 7 years for him for Rachel's hand in marriage. Jacob completes this task and is instead of being given Rachel, he is given Leah. they are married and when Jacob remembers what had happened, he goes to Laban and asks if he has been decieved. Laban confirms this and Jacob pleads to be given Rachel's hand. Laban consents only if Jacob is willing to work 7 more years for Laban. He agrees and ultimately is given Rachel's hand as well.
To me this shows that Jacob is honorable and keeps to his word. that is following God's law. It also shows the true dedication and depth at which he does love Rachel.
I love the story of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph was thrown into a pit and later taken out to be sold to the Midianite traders.The Midianites then sold Joseph to an official of Pharaoh.
Joseph was made an overseer of his masters house and God was with Joseph and the household prospered. He was handsome and the masters wife wanted Joseph for herself but he would not let his guard down.
Eventually the wife lied about Joseph being with her so he was thrown into prison.
In prison Joseph became an interpretator for the butler and baker. He told them to remember him when they went before the Pharaoh. The butler was given his job back but the baker was hanged.
Now the Pharaoh had some dreams and needed someone to interpret them. The butler remembered Joseph who helped him while he was in prison. Pharoah sent for Joseph who interpretated the dreams. It all came true.
One of the dreams was about seven years of bounty and the other dream was seven years famine.
It was during this famine that the brothers were told to go to Egypt and get grain. All the brothers were brought together and Joseph reveals himself and was so forgiving towards his brothers.
The moral of the story is that when life seems to be going all wrong God shows his hand and good comes out of it.
I hate to write about this story because so many have but I have to. The story of Joseph and his brothers show us that the Torah is more than just the law. Even through all that his brothers put him through, Joseph was there for them when they really needed him. This is something that all of us should be doing and many of us don't do enough of. I was doing my homework for a courtship and marriage this morning and in the book it talked about how forgiveness is an important process for families to go through. I believe this is true and it is shown by this story.
The story of Joseph and his brothers in Egypt demonstrate that the Torah is law code. Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to buy grain. The brothers appear before Joseph, who recognizes them but does not reveal himself. After having proved them on this and on a second journey, and they having shown themselves so fearful and penitent that Judah even offers himself as a slave, Joseph reveals his identity, forgives his brothers the wrong they did him, and he promises to settle in Egypt both them and his father.
Forgiveness is the main theme I pull from this story. It would have been so easy for Joseph to enslave or kill his brothers for their transgressions against him, but he does not. Instead he takes them in and embraces them as his brothers. Joseph's ability to transcend hatred and bitterness is a testament to discipline and self control.
I definetally believe that the book of Genesis is more than just a code of laws.
1. It shows how families worked together or fought together. We see the constant struggle between Jacob and his father-in-law, Laban. They fight over Jacob's terms of service and over where Jacob and his descendants should live. We also see Jacob's sons fighting among eachother--they all plot against Joseph (except Reuben, who wanted to yet failed to save Joseph from his brothers' evil plot) and eventually sell him into slavery. This family was pretty disfunctional at this point, but after Joseph thrives in Egypt and meets up with and reconciles with his brothers in Chapters 42-45, Jacob's household becomes a great example of how families could be functional and loving.
2. It shows how people got revenge. We see brothers Simeon and Levi getting revenge on the Hivites after one Hivite, Shechem, defiled their sister Dinah. They kill all the men in the city of Shechem. People may also learn a lesson about acting in revenge, as Simeon and Levi are later rebuked by their father for they ways in which they tricked the Hivite men and later killed them.
3. One more--apart from being full of laws and good lessons, Genesis is full of good genaology that connects characters and reveals how tribes are related to each other. And, this genaology is usually pretty clear (though long-winded at times) in showing one man's wife or wives, his children, and their decendants. For example, Esau, son of Isaac, has his decendants listed in Chapter 36. Jacob/Israel's genaology is provided to readers in Chapter 46.
These are just the first three things I picked up while looking for reasons why one could consider Genesis to be more than just a code of laws.
While I was reading in Genesis I found that chapter 25 was very interesting. I never knew that after Sarah had died Abraham had several other concubines. I found this shocking and appalling that one of the most common names in the Bible would do such a thing.
I feel that this is a prime example of the torah or law not being followed. Abraham even cheated on his wife while she was alive. All though she had passed at this time it still seems disrespectful to have all these other mistresses.
On the other hand i find comfort that a father such as Abraham has such a sinful nature can still be great in God's eyes. God's love is great and it is for all. God can forgive Abraham and make a great nation of his decedents so therefore he can do it for us as well.
I absolutely love the story of Joseph’s interactions with his brothers. It shows us that the Torah is much more than just a law code; it is an example of how each of us should live our lives. In this story, Joseph is able to put the past pain aside in order to forgive his brothers and be reunited with his family. It is too easy for us to hold grudges and to leave disagreements unsettled – we all could take advice from Joseph.
I especially like the fact that Joseph is able to see the that good has come out of the evil that was done to him by his brothers. His trust in God’s plan for his life and the lives of all His people is admirable.
These chapters are more about moral codes. God found Er to be wicked in His sight, so He killed him. Onan would not have a child with his brother's wife, so God killed him. It would appear that when God told the people in the old testament to do something, He meant it. Is this the time period when God hardened his heart toward man?
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